248 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
time, the magma may be absorbing fresh water, 
raising it to its own temperature, and eventually 
converting it into vapour, which continues to 
escape at the expense of its own heat. Last, and 
probably least important, would be the conduction 
and convexion near the earth’s surface by the 
subterranean circulation of water. 
(to be continued ) 
A year’s insect-hunting at Gibraltar. 
BY JAMES J. WALKER, R.N., F.E.S. 
III. 
My most interesting captures were, however, 
made in the nests of the large black ants {Atta 
capitata, and barbara) which abounded under 
stones. With these ants I was fortunate enough 
to find the rare and singular little Myrmecophilous 
Carabid, Pseudotrechus mutilatus, Rosh., in com- 
pany with the equally curious Oochrotus unicolor , 
Luc., Merophysia carinulata Rosh., Colnocera 
atta!, Ktz., and Dinarda nigrita, Rosh. The still 
more wonderful Paussus Favieri, Fairm., was 
found in the nests of a smaller brown ant ( Pheidole 
pallidula), but this insect and the Pseudotrechus 
were met with more frequently in February and 
March. 
Early in January I left for England, and retur- 
ned to Gibraltar on February 15th. The weather 
was then cool and showery, with warm sunny 
days at intervals, and I found that vegetation had 
made much progress during my absence, and a few 
of the early butterflies began to put in an appea- 
rance. Thus, on the 17th, Papilio Machaon , 
Fuchloe Belemia, E., * and hibernated Gonepteryx 
Cleopatra, L., * were on the wing, reinforced at 
the end of the month by Lyccena Icarus, Rott.. * 
Astrarche, Berg., * and Thais rumina , L. * The 
latter beautiful insect abounded both on the Rock 
and in the Cork Woods, frequenting open bushy 
spots where its food-plants, Aristolochia glauca, 
Desf., grew in plenty, and it could be caught 
without much difficulty. Fuchloe Belemia, on the 
other hand, usually cost a hard run before it was 
secured, being (as might be judged from its robust 
build) as swift and strong on the wing as Co/ias 
Edusa. Thestor Bal/us, Hb., * appeared on March 
9th, and Fuchloe euphtnoides , Stgr., * on the 11th, 
but the weather in March, was not favourable for 
collecting, and it was not until the 29th that I was 
able to make my first excursion of the year to the 
Cork Woods. On this day, which was warm and 
sunny, the profusion of insect life was very remark- 
able, and I noticed no fewer than 25 species of 
butterflies on the wing. Leucophasia sinapis. L., 
was common, Pieris Daplidice, L. * (very pale), 
was not rare, and Fuchloe evphenoidts , flitting 
quietly from flower to flower, made quite a 
feature in the scene : with it were a few E. Belia, 
var. Ausonia, Hb., and one or two of what I take 
to be E. tagis, Hb., but am not quite sure. Thecl i 
rubi, L., althought common, was getting worn, 
and I noticed one or two of an early brood of 
Lyccena Telicanus , Hb., besides nearly ail the 
other species of butterflies as yet mentioned. 
Chelonia villica, L., occurred singly, and worn 
males of Saturnia carpini , S. V., were rushing 
about in all directions in the Cork Woods. Among 
the Coleoptera were Cicindela campestris, var. 
maroccana, F., and Jlexuosa, F.. Alelolontha pap- 
posa, 111., flying by hundreds near the ground in 
shady places, a fine black Bolboceras, and the 
curious Sepidium bidentatum, Sol., previously 
found by me in abundance at Malaga in 1S76. 
Towards the end of the month I met with the 
singular little flat yellowish w r eevil. Derelomus 
chamceropis , F., plentifully in the male flowers of 
Chamcerops humilis on the Rock. 
The chief entomological feature of April was 
the abundance of the large Ateuchi ( sacer , L., 
variolosus, F., and more rarely semipunct i tus, F.), 
which were to be seen everywhere on the wing, or 
else, in pairs, busily providing for the future by 
rolling up and burying balls of sterroraceus matter 
much larger than themselves. The queer long- 
legged Sisyphus Schajferi , L.. appears to be quite 
rare here, but Gymnopleuri of two species and 
Oniticellus , abounded on their food, with the large 
black Onitis Olivieri, 111. Conspicuous every- 
where in the open ground was the huge red-striped 
Meloe maialis , L., and in the Cork Woods, Endo- 
phlceus, Cerylon , Colydium, Plegaderus, PI a tyso m a 
Liodes, Hypophlceus and Platypus, were more or 
less copiously represented under bark. Here, too, 
I had the good fortune to find the remarkable 
Brenthid weevil, Amorphocephalus corona t us, 
Germ., in an old cork tree much infested with a 
large species of ant somewhat resembling Form i:<t 
